Like this:

After years of neglect by various Governments and with the current negotiations reaching a standstill with no sign of a positive resolution, the move to industrial action by the racing participants of Qld is unfortunately now unavoidable. All participants in Qld will stand-down on Sat October 27th (Cox Plate Day) for meetings scheduled at Doomben, Gold Coast, Toowoomba & Townsville, and then again on Tuesday 6th of November (Melbourne Cup Day) across all TAB meetings. At this stage we will keep our commitment to allow the non-TAB meeting on both these days to proceed.

This action has the full support of the 4 industry bodies comprising Trainers, Jockeys, Breeders & Owners and comes after a deadline yesterday for the Government failed to deliver the requested commitment to return 100% of the racing component of the Point of Consumption tax to racing. Despite claims that 100% of this new tax will be returned to racing, the clear fact is none of this will be returned to thoroughbred racing this year. Prize-money is our wages. Ten years ago our people were receiving 75% of what NSW racing delivered in Prize-money and now Queensland sits at 45%, and as all the other states embrace this new betting tax this gap will only widen further.

The significant financial investment from this new “betting tax” given by the other States into their racing industries, is in stark contrast to what is shown in Queensland and whilst this industrial action is certainly not the industry participants preferred response, the Governments lack of understanding of the importance of the current situation in Queensland, leaves us with no alternative.

Like this:

THE Racing Information fee deadline of September 30 is looming ever closer, with interim Chief Executive Ian Hall having met with wagering providers over the past few months.

The previous schedule of fees expired in June, but with the upheaval at RQ, an extension was granted under the existing rates.

Race information fees (RIF) are the biggest growth area in revenue as corporate bookmakers continue to plunder a larger slice of market share.

A number of wagering operators have spoken favourably of their dealings with Hall and believe they have been well heard, but are sceptical by the reference to RIFs in the Racing Reforms discussion paper.

They are wary of the seemingly loaded question “Noting that racing information fees are a source of revenue for Racing Queensland, should the racing fees be held at their current levels? If so, for how long?”.

At the moment, Queensland is the most expensive jurisdiction in Australia for wagering operators.

The discussion paper has been widely condemned, for having errors, loaded questions and a lack of detail.

Respected Victoria-based administrator Paul Bittar was particularly scathing in comments made on Twitter last week.

He tweeted that the document “ranks as one of the most disappointing and poorly constructed set of questions I’ve seen”.

Bittar said the question relating to race fees and the comparison to Victoria “beggars belief”.

Victoria changed their model last year and it now encapsulates bookmaker revenue, while keeping the turnover base, and returns to the industry have been significantly higher.

It will be interesting to see how the new RQ regime deals with Betfair, as the previous board constructed a set of fees that effectively ruled out the exchange from operating on Queensland races.

###

SPEAKING of Betfair, Chautauqua got out to $8 in the run before blowing his rivals to pieces on Saturday.

Betfair punters sent him out at $2.72 when the gates opened, but layers were happy to offer more generous odds when he drifted so far back.

Those that took the $8 would have been on good terms as the grey produced a burst of acceleration that probably can’t be matched by any other horse in the country.

Like this:

THE urgency on a green light for Eagle Farm’s stalled tunnels project has finally hit home and work could begin before the end of the month.

Insiders suggest it will take eight months from the starting point for the tunnels until Eagle Farm can race and that means work needs to start by August for the track to be ready for the winter carnival.

“It’s no secret we need to get stuck into this project pretty quickly to have Eagle Farm open in time for the 2016 Winter Carnival,” BRC deputy chairman Richard Morrison said.

“If the approval comes through, the contractors can be working before the end of the month and under that scenario, barring a catastrophe, it will have us comfortably open in plenty of time before the carnival.

“We’re encouraged by the support of the Government for this major infrastructure project, which we view as very much a legacy project for the whole racing industry.”

Racing Minister Bill Byrne said a meeting of Government agencies, Racing Queensland and the Brisbane Racing Club had resolved key issues and a path was mapped out for the project which has been delayed for six months.

Like this:

RACING Queensland will honour their seven-year $35 million commitment to help turn the Magic Millions carnival into Australia’s richest raceday from next year.

Rumours have been rife in recent weeks that prizemoney levels could be cut in Queensland to counterattack RQ’s estimated $11 million loss last financial year (2014-15) and projected $21 million loss for this financial year.

RQ officials could not confirm whether the Magic Millions deal would still be honoured when contacted by the Gold Coast Bulletin on Sunday and their position hadn’t changed late on Tuesday.

But Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox said it was “all systems go” with the seven-year partnership after meeting RQ officials on Tuesday.

The deal, announced in December, will see both parties deliver $35 million over seven years to ensure the Magic Millions raceday is worth $10 million until 2022.

Cox said he was never concerned RQ would not hold up its end of the deal.

“My primary concern (before Tuesday’s meeting) was the administration of racing in the state and if that was ever going to go backwards and if so then we were all in trouble, $10 million raceday or not,” he said.

“But (the new-look Racing Queensland) have the promotion of the industry at heart and the participants so I’m very encouraged and it was a good, positive meeting.”

Magic Millions will reveal in the next fortnight the four lead-up races which will carry wildcard entries into the Magic Millions carnival this summer.

The winners of the four wildcard races will receive entry into four selected races on Magic Millions day even if they aren’t Magic Millions graduates.

Cox said the promotion has been introduced to help boost the strength of the raceday next year.

“What we are hoping to do is improve the quality of racing and having obviously some fantastic Queensland-based horses but a higher profile horse from not only Queensland but interstate and with any luck an international runner or two,” Cox said.

“It’s the richest raceday in Australia and we want to make sure it rightfully holds that position.”

The Magic Millions carnival has never attracted a horse trained outside Australasia but that could change next year with Singapore trainer Michael Freedman considering leaving promising colt Super One in Australia for the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on January 9.

“Michael is bringing him down for the Coolmore (Stud Stakes) in the spring and he said to me the other day he might leave him here and go around in the Magic Millions carnival as well,” Cox said.

Super One, a $190,000 purchase at last year’s Magic Millions January Yearling Sale, is undefeated in three starts in Singapore, including a five-length romp in the Group 2 Golden Horseshoe (1200m) at Kranji on May 15.

To receive the wildcard, a horse can’t be sold as a yearling at a rival auction house or at a rival two-year-old sale when not sold as a yearling.

Like this:

Racing Queensland and Magic Millions have announced the country’s first $10 million raceday will be conducted during the 2016 Gold Coast Magic Millions.

The Jeep Magic Millions Raceday on Saturday January 9, 2016 will become Australia’s richest race meeting and ranked in the world’s top 10, as part of a seven-year partnership (2016-2022) to take the summer program to unprecedented heights with the Magic Millions Racing Queensland Summer Carnival.

Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox recognised the significance of the partnership and the immense support Racing Queensland is delivering to every facet of the thoroughbred industry from breeders, owners and trainers to buyers and vendors at Magic Millions sales.

“The phenomenal support and foresight of Racing Queensland, in concert with Magic Millions, has created the Magic Millions $10 Million raceday. The combined vision is a game-changer for Queensland racing, for the Gold Coast and for the Australian thoroughbred industry as a whole,” Mr Cox said.

“The partnership with Racing Queensland is long-term, which invigorates thoroughbred racing for the current generation of industry stakeholders, as well as creating momentum and motivation for the next generation of Queenslanders and Australians committing to a thoroughbred industry career,” Mr Cox added.

Racing Queensland Chairman Kevin Dixon said the prizemoney boost would set the bar in Australian racing, attracting the best horses and the attention of the racing world.

“This is a monumental day for the Queensland racing industry and the partnership with Magic Millions leaves no doubt as to where we want to take our racing product,” Mr Dixon said.

“Over the past six months we have built a strong platform with base level and feature prizemoney increases and this partnership is the next phase in our vision to take Queensland racing to the world. Today’s announcement is just one part of an overall program to continually improve all three codes of racing in Queensland.”

“As part of the new partnership, the summer program will be reviewed to develop clear pathways for horses to what will essentially be our grand final on Magic Millions Raceday.

“Another clincher will be the addition of wild card entries into four $1 million races on Jeep Magic Millions Raceday, which will be granted to the eligible winners of four selected races during the summer carnival and potentially give four non-Magic Millions horses a chance to race on the day.”

Mr Dixon said as part of the partnership, there would also be a one-off opportunity for older Magic Millions Graduates who were not previously registered for the series to register.

Minister for Racing Steve Dickson said Magic Millions was already a huge contributor to the Gold Coast economy but the new partnership would deliver a significant boost to the state’s racing and tourism industries.

“We want to grow tourism, as one of the four pillars of the economy, and events like the Magic Millions really help put our state on the map.” Mr Dickson said.

“Where else can you watch top quality horses compete for $10 million in stakes just a stone’s throw from some of the world’s most beautiful beaches?”

“The Newman LNP Government made a strong plan to reinvigorate the industry, and it’s clear that it’s working, with today’s news the latest in a string of racing successes, including the recent 30-year wagering deal.

“The industry can continue to look to the future with confidence under a Newman LNP Government.”